Editor’s note: The Future Leaders of America series profiles high school seniors who display leadership qualities in their school and the community. The series is brought to you by Pridemark Construction.
By Stacey Shannon—
MUNCIE, IN—Nora Quirk’s high school career began with a leadership role and only flourished from there. The Muncie Central High School senior represented Indiana at the Global Youth Panel held at Harvard University during her freshman year. She spent two weeks learning about leadership and participating in community projects with other students from all over the world.
Quirk’s leadership roles grew from there. Now she is the president of her class, president of National Honor Society, a member of the Muncie Community School Student Advisory Board and president of the Student Athlete Leadership Team, which she helped create.
Quirk is also a proud member of the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee that oversees high school sports throughout the state.
“That gives me the chance to go to the state finals events and represent my school in front of schools…and be able to show students that there are amazing students that come from Central,” she said.
Representing her school and community well is important to Quirk who said she’s heard many negative things about Muncie Community Schools. She wants to show people the opportunities and caliber of students within the school system.
“My mom always taught me that whenever you’re looking at a situation, make it better and not worse,” Quirk said. “So, coming into high school, that’s what I wanted to do. Here at Muncie Central, you get an amazing education and there are endless amounts of opportunities. It’s really important for me to be able to show other students and other people in the community how amazing not only Muncie Central is but Muncie as a whole community is.”
However, being a leader comes with challenges. Quirk said this year she’s had other students speak negatively about her because she does put herself in the light as a leader.
“I’m just trying to balance realizing my own self-worth and not comparing it to the worth that other people give me,” Quirk said.
Another skill she’s learned throughout high school is how to prioritize and communicate with her coaches and teachers since she is involved in so many things. Quirk is also part of the soccer, swim and tennis teams and plays clarinet in band. Balancing it all has helped learn how to spend her time well.
“It’s allowed me to grow as an individual and given me life skills that hopefully will help me in my college career,” she said.
Quirk plans to attend college as a pre-med student with the goal to become a pediatric psychiatrist. For now, as she is winding down her high school career, Quirk encourages those coming behind her to get involved as much as they can and continue her legacy of representing the school and community well.
“Every time you step out into the public eye, you have to carry yourself with poise,” she said. “Remember that whenever you’re representing your community or your school or whatever group you’re a part of, you need to make sure that you’re representing them properly and that you’re carrying yourself with self-respect and some dignity.”
421 S Walnut St #2459, Muncie, IN 47305
Phone: (765) 284-3833
https://www.pridemarkconstruction.com
